Officials: Body is that of missing Westminster child Jessica Ridgeway

The neighborhood, Wednesday, October 10, 2012, around the home of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway is covered with missing flyers and signs of the young girl. (RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post)

Jessica Ridgeway (handout)

WESTMINSTER — State and local law enforcement officials told an afternoon media briefing that the body found in Arvada has been positively identified as Jessica Ridgeway, the 10-year-old girl missing from Westminster.

The body was identified using DNA tests. On Thursday Westminster police spokesman Trevor Materasso said the body found Wednesday was not intact, and that was making it difficult to identify it.

Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk said he had "a great deal of sorrow" in his heart.

"There is a predator at large in our community," he said, adding that investigators are putting all efforts into finding the killer.

Jim Yacone with the FBI said, "The commitment with investigators will not waver. Our commitment to seek justice will only grow."

"This is not the news we wanted to hear," Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey said. He said that the investigation is the priority, and officials would not jeopardize that.

Birk, Yacone and Storey did not take questions.

Materasso confirmed DNA was used to identify the body.

Jessica was last seen at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 5 as she left her home on Moore Street in Westminster. She was to meet with classmates at nearby Chelsea Park to walk to Witt Elementary, but she never arrived at school that morning. Her mother, Sarah Ridgeway, a night-shift worker, slept during the day and awoke to find a message that her daughter never made it to school and reported her missing around 4:30 p.m. Oct. 5.

On Oct. 7 Jessica's backpack was found in Superior. Police have said it is being analyzed for DNA evidence.